Sam Pittman said after Thursday night’s offensive explosion he could not be happier for Bobby Petrino.

The former Arkansas coach is back in Fayetteville to run the offense for Pittman in what is a crucial season for this current regime. After losing 8 games last fall, Pittman enters the 2024 year with serious pressure on him to win. Pittman brought Petrino over from Texas A&M to reinvigorate the Arkansas offense, but he may not have expected such immediate results.

In a 70-0 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Razorbacks scored touchdowns on all 10 of their offensive possessions.

That smashed a program record for consecutive touchdown drives in a game. Arkansas scored on 6 straight trips in a game against New Mexico State in 2004.

“And it happened when Bobby came back,” Pittman said. “The legend’s going to continue to grow. Good for him, he deserves it.”

Petrino sits seventh all-time in wins at Arkansas. In 4 seasons (2008-11), he won 34 games and took the Razorbacks to back-to-back New Year’s 6 bowl games. Arkansas won a Cotton Bowl in 2011 that secured the program’s first 11-win season as a member of the SEC.

He left the school amid controversy in 2012, but his return this offseason sent a jolt through the fanbase. Petrino brought in transfer quarterback Taylen Green (Boise State) and transfer running back Ja’Quinden Jackson (Utah) to reset the picture in the backfield, and both players were dynamite in their debuts on Thursday.

Green complete 16 of his 23 passes for 229 yards and 2 scores while rushing 6 times for another 88 yards and 2 more touchdowns. Jackson ran 8 times for 101 yards and 2 scores. Between them, they produced 3 rushing plays of more than 30 yards. Green also had 6 explosive pass plays in the opening half.

As a team, the Razorbacks averaged 9.8 yards per play. They only had 2 offensive plays stopped for a loss, and they ran 70 total. They averaged 8.5 yards per rushing attempt and were perfect on third down (9-for-9).

Green became just the third Arkansas quarterback since 1997 to run for multiple scores and pass for multiple scores in a game.

The 28 first-quarter points Arkansas scored were the most in an opening quarter since 2014.

And the 70 total points were the most in a season opener since 1911.

Green said after the game he loved the aggressive nature of Petrino. The first play of the game for Arkansas was a deep shot from Green that fell incomplete. Jackson said Petrino was already watching film and identifying areas for improvement.

“He’s a really good coach,” Pittman said. “I’ve developed a really good relationship with him and I bet he has with me as well. The kids believe in him. I believe in him. The team believes in him. Now, the kids gotta execute. Whatever you call, they’ve got to execute it and they did a good job with that. But, Bobby, I’m sure he feels pretty good tonight. Ten tries and 10 touchdowns, that’s hard to do. I don’t care who you play.

“I’m really happy for him.”